PILL REFINING

She had to take a few deep breaths to quiet her heart—both from the lingering effects of dinner and the anticipation of working with such a precious artifact. The cauldron responded to her settling emotions, its surface warming slightly under her hovering fingers, just as it had done during their first encounter.

"Let's start with something simple," Little Firefly suggested, perching on the ancient text Li Hua had spread before them. His golden feathers brushed against the yellowed pages as he indicated a particular entry. "The spirit-gathering pill would be perfect for a first attempt. See here? The recipe calls for three basic ingredients, and the refinement process is straightforward."